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Washington Takes On Housing
PLUS: Waymo is officially open to the public, and crime is down in American cities.
YIMBYLAND
June 28, 2024 • Read Time: 6 minutes
Welcome YIMBYs!
Lot’s of housing talk in Washington, Waymo officially opens to the public, and crime is down in American cities. June is officially coming to a close, but the YIMBY news never stops!
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In this week’s recap:
Federal YIMBY Movement Gains Momentum
Paris Metro Opens Line 14 Metro Extension
Cutting Through the Red Tape: VP Harris's Bold Move on Housing
Crime is Way Down in American Cities
Waymo's Opens Driverless Rides To Public
THE WEEKLY RECAP
HOUSING
Federal support for zoning reform is finally gaining traction! The Reducing Regulatory Barriers to Housing Act, introduced by Senator Fetterman and Representative Blunt Rochester, aims to cut through the red tape that stifles housing development. This bipartisan bill offers technical assistance and funding to local governments to ease zoning restrictions, paving the way for more affordable housing. With the housing crisis affecting every corner of the country, this could be a game-changer.
TRANSIT
Paris has officially completed a key upgrade to its metro system just in time for the 2024 Olympics. The €3.5 billion extension of Metro Line 14 now connects the athletes' village to Orly airport. Spanning 28 kilometers with eight new stations, this extension is set to ease transportation pressures and eliminate the need for car travel to key Olympic sites.
Vice President Kamala Harris has announced an unprecedented $85 million funding initiative to combat the housing crisis by addressing local barriers to construction. The new Pathways to Removing Obstacles to Housing (PRO Housing) program aims to reduce housing costs by updating local housing plans, reforming outdated policies, and leveraging federal resources to spur development. This initiative, part of the Biden-Harris Administration's broader strategy, marks a significant step towards increasing affordable housing supply and lowering rental costs, reflecting a committed effort to tackling the housing crisis.
CRIME
Despite pervasive narratives suggesting otherwise, crime in America is significantly down. Various data sources, including the FBI, AH Datalytics, and the Council on Criminal Justice, show a clear decline in crime rates since their peak in 2021, argues Noah Smith in a recent blog post. This decline is great news after large spikes during the height of the pandemic.
TRANSIT
Photo: Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images
Waymo's recent announcement that anyone in San Francisco can now hail a ride in one of their self-driving cars marks a significant step forward for autonomous vehicle technology. This expansion allows residents to experience Waymo's services without needing to be on a waitlist, making San Francisco the second U.S. city after Phoenix to offer this level of access. Users can now request a ride through the Waymo One app, similar to using other ride-hailing services like Uber or Lyft, with a comparable pricing structure.
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